Beyond Pills: Acupressure Impact on Self-Rated Pain and Anxiety Scores.

Elizabeth Monson,Tammy Miller,Diane Arney,Deanna Waggy,Erika Elias,Kami Linden,Kimberly Mccord,Rebekah Bird,Lori Ritter,Cathy Miller,Beth Benham

doi:10.1089/acm.2018.0422

Abstract

Objectives: To determine impact of an acupressure protocol on self-rated pain and anxiety scores.Design: Retrospective database analysis of self-rated pain and anxiety scores before and immediately after administration of stress release acupressure protocol.Participants: Participants include hospitalized patients, nurses, and public.Intervention: Involves a 16-point stress release acupressure protocol.Outcome measures: Outcome measures involve pre- and post-treatment self-rated pain scores (0–10) with the Wong-Baker Faces Scale and pre- and post-treatment self-rated anxiety scores (0–10) on a visual analog scale.Results: Five hundred and nineteen acupressure treatments were retrospectively analyzed with pre- and post-treatment self-rated pain and anxiety scores, where 0 represented no pain or anxiety and 10 represented the worst pain and anxiety. Overall, participants demonstrated a two-point decrease in pain scores and a four-point decrease in anxiety scores post-treatment. Hospitalized patients demonstrated a four-point decrease in pain scores and a five-point decrease in anxiety scores post-treatment. Nurses demonstrated a three-point decrease in pain scores and four-point decrease in anxiety scores post-treatment. Public population demonstrated a one-point decrease in pain scores and two-point decrease in anxiety scores post-treatment. Seventy-five percent of participants were highly satisfied with acupressure treatments, and 96% of treatments were administered in less than 30 minutes.Conclusions: Acupressure is a highly satisfactory complementary therapy that can demonstrate a clinically significant decrease in self-rated pain and anxiety scores.

Highlights

There is increasing need for treatment options that provide relief from common symptoms such as pain and anxiety, which are efficacious and safe
A recent study compared an opioid versus nonopioid medications for treatment of chronic pain over a 12-month period, and found that using nonopioid therapies offered lower pain scores over time as compared with the opioid therapy group.[2]
This study examined the effects of acupressure on selfrated pain and anxiety scores through a retrospective database review

Summary

Introduction

There is increasing need for treatment options that provide relief from common symptoms such as pain and anxiety, which are efficacious and safe. A recent study compared an opioid versus nonopioid medications for treatment of chronic pain over a 12-month period, and found that using nonopioid therapies offered lower pain scores over time as compared with the opioid therapy group.[2] Extrapolating from this research, a stronger pain pill is not the most effective way to manage chronic pain. Integrative therapies expand treatment options, thereby offering hope to address symptom management without increased risk of adverse effects. Acupressure is easy to learn and institute in any setting It is a cost-effective integrative therapy that does not break the protective barrier of the skin, reducing risk of infection and bleeding. Acupressure has been shown to provide efficacious symptom management without significant adverse events

Objectives

Results

Conclusion